Fabric-coating machine



Sept. 24, 1929.

w. D. TIMMONS FABRI C COATING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 24, 1929. w, o s 1,729,368

FABRIC COATING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1925 v a She ets-Sheet 2 gvwe'ntoc W0. fi'mmons a Q 2 4,47 Elttozmuq;

W. D. TIMMONS FABRIC COATING MACHINE Sept. 24, l 929.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 12, 1923 p WD. Timmons afl mmzq r Patented Se t. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES WILLIAM D. TI'MMONS, OF COSHOCTON, OHIO FABRIC-COATING MACHINE Application filed March 12, 1923. Serial No. 624,540.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for applying waterproofing material or compositions to cloth or other fabric.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a machine, which, in its operation, will apply the waterproofing material or composition in an even manner and cause the same to thoroughly permeate the fabric thereby producing a product of better qualit than is ordinarily obtainable.

Another 0 ject of the invention is to provide means whereby the coating composition may be applied in a more even and uniform manner than is ordinarily possible in the use of machines previously designed for this purose. p Another object of the invention is to obviate the risks and inconveniences attending the usual processes followed in waterproofing fabrics as, for example, when gasoline, benzol, and other inflammable substances are employed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine, the fabric being broken away where necessary to disclose the mechanical features;

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating one of the devices provided for applying the waterproofing material to the fabric;

Figure 4 is a detail view in front elevation of a bearing for the winding shaft of the machine;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional view illustrating a part of the devices provided for supplying a heated fluid to the heating drums of the machine;

Figure 7 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section illustrating the winding shaft for taking up the coated fabric;

FigureS is a sectionalview on the line 88 of Figure 7.

The machine embodying the invention consists essentially of. mechanism for applying the waterproofing composition or material to the fabric in a thin film, means for causing the applied material to permeate the fabric, and means for winding into roll form the completed product.

The fabric to be coated is delivered to the coating applying mechanism from a roll 1 which may be supported upon a shaft 2 mounted upon uprights 3 upstanding from a wheeled truck 4 adapted to be moved into position opposite the said applying mechanism. From the roll 1, the cloth or other on fabric is led upwardly and over rolls 5 and 6 mounted, for example, in or upon a superstructure 7 which is constructed above the operating parts of the machine.

The coating applying mechanism is indicated in general by the numeral 8 and comprises a frame structure 9 in which is mounted a shaft 10 having fixed upon it a tensionin'g roll 11 and a friction drum 12. The cloth is led downwardly from the roll 6 and beneath an idle roll 13 and thence about the roll 11 and again upwardly and over a roll 14 mounted. upon the superstructure 7 adjacent the roll 6. The idle roll 13 is journaled at its ends in the outer ends of arms 15 pivotally mounted, as at 16, upon the frame structure 9, and rods 17 are fixed at their lower ends upon the frame structure and project upwardly through slots in the said arms and a spring 18 is arranged upon each of the rods and bears at its lower end against the respective arm and at its upper end beneath an adj usting hand wheel 19 threaded onto the upper end of the respective rod. By adjusting the hand wheels 19, the pressure exerted by the idle roll 13 upon the fabric may be adjusted. In order to retard the rotation of the tensioning roll 11 and thus suitably tension the fabric, a friction band 20 is engaged over the friction drum 12 and connected at its ends as at 21 to an arm 22 pivot-ally mounted as at 23 upon the frame structure 9. The numeral 24' indicates a rod which is adjustably threaded at its lower end in a bearing 25 upon the base of the frame structure 9 and this arm extends upwardly through a slot in the arm 22 and carries above the arm, a stop collar 26, a spring 27 being fitted upon the rod and bearing at its lower end upon the arm 22 and at its upper end beneath the collar 26.

i A hand wheel 28 is fixed upon-the upper end I of the rod and affords means whereby the rod may be rotated so as to adjust it in the bearing 25 and thus vary the tension of the spring 27. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 that the roll 13 presses the cloth against the surface of the roll 11, and it will be understood that in this manner the cloth is suitably tensioned before being led over the roll 14. After passing from the roll 14, the fabric is led over a similar idle roll 29 and downwardly from this roll and beneath a roll 30 mounted upon the frame structure 9. From the roll 30 the fabric is led in the direction of the tensioning devices above described and over the flat upper surface of a bed plate 31, the fabric passing from this bed plate beneath a material-applying blade 32 mounted in suitable guides 33 at the opposite sides of the frame structure 9. The numeral 34 indicates threaded adjusting rods which are adjustably mounted in the guides 33 and are adapted to be rotated by hand wheels 35 fixed upon their upper ends, the lower ends of the rods swiveling in the ends of the blade 32, whereby when the hand wheels 35 are rotated the blade 32 will be adjusted to bear more or less firmly upon the upper side of that portion of the stretch of the fabric which is passing beneath the said blade. The numeral 36 indicates an idle roll which is mounted upon the frame structure 9 and over which the cloth is led after passing beneath the blade 32, the cloth being then led downwardly'and beneath another idle roll 37 also mounted in the said frame structure. From the roll the cloth is led over a bed plate 38 corresponding to the plate 31, and from this plate 38 beneath a blade 39 corresponding to the blade 32 and mounted in guides 40 upon the frame structure and adjusted through the medium of threaded rods 41 and hand wheels 42 corresponding to the rods 34 and hand wheels 35.

In the operation ofthe machine, and so far as concerns the coating applying mechanism above described, the composition or material to be applied is disposed in bulk,'as indicated by the reference letters C and C, upon the upper surface of the fabric and against the blade 32, and also upon the other surface of the fabric and against the blade 39. As the fabric is drawn beneath the blades, a quantity of the composition will be taken up by the two surfaces of the fabric and will be gpplied in a thin film or layer to both suraces.

From the coating applying mechanism, the fabric with the coating material applied to the two surfaces, thereof, is led to and about the heating drums comprising the means for effecting permeation of the fabric by the material, this means being indicated in general by the numeral 43 and comprising a frame structure 44 in which are mounted what spaced relation thereto, over the drum 45, thence downwardly and beneath and about the drum 46, and thence over the drum 47 These drums are mounted by trunnions 48 in suitable bearings 49 upon the frame structure 44, and gears 50, 51 and 52 are fixed upon the trunnions of the drums 45, 46 and 47, respectively, the gears 50 and 52 meshing with a gear 53 mounted upon a stub shaft 54 upon the frame structure 44. A gear 55 is connected for rotation with the gear 53, and a pinion 56 meshes with the said gear 55 and is fixed upon a shaft 57 carrying a belt pulley 58 by which it is driven. In this manner rotary motion is imparted to the drums 45 and 47, and the fabric is thus caused to travel about these drums and also about the drum 46, the gear 51, associated with the drum 46, meshing with the gear 52 which is associated with the drum 47 I The numeral 59 indicates a pipe which leads from a suitable source of hot oil supply and branches 60 lead from this pipe and are led through stuffing boxes 61 upon the heads of the respective drum 45, 46 and 47 In this manner .hot oil or any other heated fluid may be introduced into the drums, which are hollow, and the fluid is conducted from the drums by suitable outlet pipes 62 which lead from their opposite heads. As the drums are heated, and as the fabric with the coating composition applied to the two surfaces thereof, is drawn tightly over the drums as they rotate, the said composition will be caused to permeate thefabric from both surfaces and thus become intimately incorporated therein.

From the drum 47 p the cloth is led between pairs of idle guide rolls 63 mounted upon the superstructure 7, and over a roll- 64 also mounted upon said structure. After being passed about the roll 64, the cloth is led over a roll 65 which is supported by adjustable arms 66 and bears in the direction of the roll 64. 7, From the roll 65 the cloth is led downwardly and over and about a number of rods 67 mounted in a frame structure 68, the cloth in passing over theserods being so spread out as to remove all wrinkles. The rods 67 are mounted in juxtaposition to' the cloth winding mechanism of the machine which is indicated in general by the numeral 69 and said mechanism embodies a shaft which is indicated in general by the numeral 70' and which com-prises a hollow cylindrical body 71 formed with longitudinal slots 72 and closed at its ends by heads 73 and 74. The head 73 is provided with a trunnion 75 which is rotatably journaled and supported in a pivotally mounted as at between the upper" ends of spaced members 81 constitutin a supporting pedestal 82 for the said knee. The other member of the knee is indicated by the numeral 83 and extends downwardly and is provided at its lower end with a foot 84 having a seating notch or recess 85 formed in its under side. The numeral 87 indicates a detent member pivotally mounted as at 88 within the pedestal 82 and having an upstanding toe 89 to engage in the notch 85. A counterweight 90 upon or integral with the detent 87 and located below the pivot 88, serves to normally overbalance the said member and present the toe 89 for engagement in the notch 85. With the parts in this position as shown in full lines in Figure 5, the supported end of the shaft 70 exerts a downward thrust upon the knee 79 which is resisted or met by the toe 89 and therefore the knee will be supported in a substantially rigid manner.

A foot piece 91 extends from the detent 87,

' and when pressure is exerted in a downward direction upon this foot piece, the detent will be moved to substantially the dotted line position shown in this figure, thereby depriving the knee of support and permitting the same to drop also to thedotted line position shown, in which position it will afford no support to the shaft 70 and will be clear of the roll of cloth which has been wound upon the said shaft. The numeral 92 indicates a core of elliptical form in cross section, which core extends from the head 73 axially within the hollow shaft 71, and strips 93 are slidably mounted in the slots 72 and'contact at their inner edges with the surface of the core. When the minor axis of the core is in alinement with the strips 93, the outer edges of the strips will be substantially flush with the exterior surface of the shaft body 71 but when power is applied to the trunnion 75 to impart rotary motion to the shaft and wind the cloth thereon, the application of power will result first in a rotation of the core 92 within the shaft body, and in this movement of the core the strips 93 will be projected radially outwardly, and the shaft will, so to speak, be expanded within one or more turns which have been given the cloth about the said shaft. Thus the cloth is clutched with the shaft, and further application of power to the trunnion 75 will result in the shaft being rotated as a unit. After the cloth has been wound in a roll upon the shaft and a roll of the desired diameter is obtained, the application of power to the shaft may be discontinued whereupon a slight backward ro tation of the shaft will again bring the minor axis of the core 92 into alinement with the strips 93 and thus in a sense contract the shaft within the roll. Pressure may then be applied to the foot piece 91 so as to trip the knee 79 and permit the said knee to drop away from the trunnion 77 and clear of the roll upon the shaft, whereupon the roll may he slipped endwise from the said shaft.

In order that power may be applied to the winding shaft above described, a pulley 9 is fixed upon the trunnion 75, and a belt 95 is trained about the said pulley and about a drive pulley 96 mounted upon a shaft 97 in turn mounted in the superstructure 7. In order that the belt 95 may be suitably tensioned, a rocker arm 98 is mounted for rocking movement upon the trunnion 75 and at one end supports an idler 99 which engages one stretch of the said belt 95 between the pulleys 94 and 96. A rod 100 is mounted for rotation at its lower end in a suitable bearing 101 and is provided with a hand wheel 102 whereby it may be rotated, and this rod is threaded as at 103 and has threaded engagement with the other end of the rocker arm 98, it being understood that by rot-atin the hand wheel 102, the said arm 98 may e adjusted so as to cause the idler 99 to bear more or less firmly against the belt.

Having thus described the invention, what .is claimed as new is:

Ina fabric coating machine, a frame including vertical supports, upper and lower side bars carried by said supports, guides carried by said side bars to direct a strip of fabric through the frame in upper and lower flights moving longitudinally of the frame in opposite directions, the lower side bars being of greater length than the upper side bars and projecting beyond the same atone end of the frame, opposed guides carried by the upper side bars and extended end portions of the lower side bars, scrapers extending across said frame and slidably engaged with said guides for vertical'movement, means carried by said guides for applying pressure to said scrapers, and bed plates extending across the frame in spaced relation to said scrapers.

In testimony'whereof I aflix my signature.

W. D. TIMMONS. [L. 8.] 

